Lighter-than-air craft



June 17, 1930. J. T. NARUSCH LIGHTER-THAN AIR CRAFT Filed Oct. 28, 1929 15 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor c/W Z/J'ci LIGHTER-THAN-AIR CRAFT Filed 001:. 28, 1329 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor i l u gwwam A iiqrney June 17, 1930. N RU H 1,764,336

LIGHTER-THAN-AIR CRAFT Filed 001:. 28, 1929 I '3' Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor A iiorney Patented 'June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES JOSEPH T. NAR-USCH, OF AKRON, OHIO LISEHTER-THAN-AIB CRAFT Application filed October as, 1929. Serial No. 403,064.

This invention relates to lighter than air craft and has more particular reference to aeroplanes; the primary object of the invention being to provide an aeroplane of suitable construction, the invention contemplating the provision of a novel arrangement of wings for supporting the same in conjunction with a plurality of propellers, which propellers are capable of reversing movement, and wherein such arrangement of supporting planes and propellers provide means for forcing two air currents, one against the other when the aeroplane is descending, these air currents being forced upward against a third or overlapping wing structure, all in a manner tobe hereinafter more fully set forth.

More explicitly, the invention comprehends the provision of an aeroplane provided with a forward and a rearward wing structure together with an intermediate wing structure of peculiar arrangement forming a box-like housing open at the front and rear and disposed above the plane of the first mentioned front and rear wing for supporting planes,

whereby the air currents coming from the rear of the plane is caused, through the medium of the reverse movement of two propellers mounted to the rear of and slightly beneath the rear wing structure.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an aeroplane of the character above mentioned which is capable of landing in a very small area and at a very low rate of speed, and wherein the landing speed of the aeroplane may be as low as five or six miles per hour, thus rendering the plane capable of landing in a small area, such as the top of an office building, a landing deck of a battleship, dirigible or other small area.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an aeroplane of the above mentioned character, wherein it is possible to effect an almost vertical landing by reason of the air currents being forced upward against the intermediate or overlapping wing structure and by reason of the increased stability afforded by the front and rear wing structures.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a novel arrangement of wing structure and propellers as above set forth as will assist the forward propeller or coning field or short runway.

Still a further object of the invention is to so dispose the rear or auxiliary propellers with respect to the rear wing structure so that the air currents produced by the propellers in reverse motion passes forward under the rear wing structure meeting with the current or air coming from or set up by the forward propeller and up to the third or overlapping wing structure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, where- 1n:

Figure I is a top plane view of an aeroplane constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a forward end view of-the same.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail view showing the operating connection between the aeroplane motor and the auxiliary or rear propellers whereby reverse motion may be imparted tosaid propellers.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that my improved aeroplane comprises essentially a fuselage designated generally by the reference character 5, which fuselage or body is of any suitable construction, and embodying the usual cabin construction for housing the members of the crew, passengers, and also freight if so desired. 1

In this construction it will be noted that the top of the fuselage 5 inclines rearwardly from a point inwardly from the forward end of the fuselage. This is clearly shown to advantage in Figure 3.

The aeroplane further embodies the usual landing gear 6, and the usual rear supporting structure 7 As is also conventional, the aeroplane is equipped with the usual horizontal rudders 8 and vertical rudder 9. The

construction of the aero lane further contemplates the provision o a suitable motor 10 and the forward or main propeller 11.

As contemplated by the present invention, there is provided, and disposed slightly forward of the middle portion of the fuselage 5 a central wing designated generally by the reference character 12, which wing 12 extends transversely of the fuselage 5' and projects at its opposite ends laterally of the fuselage for any considerable or desired distance. This central wing structure 12 comprises an upper supporting plane 13, and a lower supporting plane 14, which planes are connected at their adjacent ends by vertical end walls 14.

There is further provided a forward wing structure comprising two transversely alining forward wings 15 extending late-rally or outwardly from the upper portion of the fuselage 5 and these wlngs 15 are provided with the usual ailerons 16.

In addition, there is also provided two transversely alining rear wings 17 also provided with ailerons 18, and constituting the rear wing structure.

It is to be noted, that the following edges of the forward wings 15 extend beneath the leading edges of the intermediate wing structure 12, and that the leading edges of the rear wing 17 extend beneath the trailing edge of the said intermediate wing structure 12 as clearly shown to advantage in Figures 1 and 3. Thus it may be stated that the wing structures 12 overla the front and rear wing structures, and urther, it is to be noted that the front wing structure has a greater wing spread than the rear wing structure.

As clearly suggested in Figures 1 and 3, the intermediate wing structure 12 of each end thereof is connected to the adjacent ends of the front and rear wings through the medium of vertical walls 14, the walls 14 at their lower edges being suitably secured to the trailing edge of the forward wings 15, and the leading edge of the rear wings 17 Thus it will be seen that the central wing structure 12 in conjunction with the'forwardand rear walls 15 and 17 respectively and the walls 14, form somewhat of a box like structure, open at its front and rear for the full len th of the wings. a

he wings 15, 17, and 12, are all of conventional camber. The motor shaft of the aeroplane is designated by the reference character 18 and extends rearwardly to the conventional transmission 19. Driven shafts 20 extend laterall from the transmission 19 through the uselage 5 and have their outer ends (iournalled in suitable bearings 21 forme in the .wall of gear housings 22 located on opposite sides of the fuselage 5 and suitably supported through the medium of brackets 23 extending from opposite sides of said fuselage. On saidends, each of the shafts 20 has a bevelled gear 24 splined thereto and meshing with a similar bevelled gear 25 on the inner end of a propeller shaft 26 extending forwardly through the gear housing 22 as shown to advantage in Figure 4.

The other ends of the propeller shafts 26 are equipped with suitable propellers 27. It is to be noted, that the propellers 27 which may be referred to as the rear auxiliary propellers are so positioned that the upper clearance of their blades is slightly to the rear of the aileron 18 of the rear wing 17 and slight- 1y beneath the level of said aileron.

It is to be understood that through the medium of suitable operating means well known in the art, the propellers 27 are capable of reverse as well as forward movement, and as shown, said rear propellers are driven from the same motor or motors as drive the forward propeller or propellers and work in' harmony with the latter.

It is to be understood of course, that I do not limit my invention to aeroplanes falling'too fast. These rear propellers are so situated that the air currents produced by them in reverse motion passes forward under the rear wings 17 meeting with the current of air coming from the forward propeller 11 and up to the said central overlapping wing 12.

Manifestly, in ascent, the rear propellers will assist the forward propeller in raising the plane from the ground, and further rendering it possible for the aeroplane to ascend from a very small landing field or short runway.

Further, by reversing the two rear propellers, which causes two currents of air to meet I beneath the forward wing 15 and rear wing 17 and to be forced upward against the third or central overlapping wing 12. This wing arrangement, together with having the wing structure 12 open along its front and rear is capable of bringing the aeroplane to a landing in almost perpendicular fashion with the motor running. P

Further advantages of this arrangement of wing structure and reversible rear propellers, are that in striking air pockets the possibility of the aeroplane going into a nose dive is reduced to a minimum, the aeroplane so. equipped will take off much easier and much quicker than heretofore accomplished, such arrangement of. wings and propellers affording greater lift for the aeroplane to greater speed, and further, will make aeroplane transportation safer than heretofore- It is believed that from the foregoing description and drawings, a clear understanding of the construction, operation, arrangement, utility and advantages of an invention of this character will be had by those skilled in the art without a more detailed description.

While I have herein shown and described the use of a third overlapping auxiliary wing used in connection with the reversible rear propeller I wish it to be clearly understood that I do not intend to limit myself to the use of a third overlapping auxiliary wing, but the invention comprehends the provision of the reversible rear propellers for use upon any type of aeroplane equipped with any number of wings which may be desired, as for instance, on a plane of a small type where it is not necessary to alight or take off in a very small area, thus saving a certain amount of expense as would be incurred unnecessarily, bl

so that the reversible rear propellers may be used with a plane having a lesser number of wings.

Even though I have herein shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it-is to be understood that the sameis susceptible to changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention asherein described, and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I wish to claim as new is:

1. An aeroplane having front and rear spaced apart wings, an intermediate w ng above the first mentioned wings, supporting walls rising from the first mentioned Wings at the ends thereof for supporting the ends of saidintermediate wings.

2. An aeroplane having front and rear spaced apart wings, an intermediate wingabove the first mentioned wings, supporting walls rising from the first mentioned win s at the ends thereof for supporting the en s of said intermediate wings, a pair of propellers adjacent the rear wings, said intermediate wing being disposed-in overlapped relation to the first mentioned wings.

3. An aeroplane, front and rear wings, an intermediate wing, said intermediate wing having its trailing edge disposed in overlapping relation with the leading edge of the rear wing, and said intermediate wing havthe trailing edge of said rear wings, whereby air currents created by all of said propellers, will meet beneat said front and rear wings to be forced upwardly against said intermediate wings.

4. A11 aeroplane, front and rear wings, an intermediate wing, said intermediate wing having its trailing edge disposed in overrotated beneath the trailing edge of said.

rear wings, whereby air currents created by all of said propellers will meet beneath said front and rear wings to be forced upwardly against said intermediate wings, said propellers being arranged on opposite sides of the aeroplane, said propellers being reversi- 5. An aeroplane comprising a fuselage, a motor within said fuselage, an outer propeller'at the forward end of the fuselage, operating means between said propeller and said motor, a wing extending transversely of and projecting'laterally from opposite sides of said fuselage, a wing extending from opposite sides of said fuselage forwardly of the first mentioned wings, below said first mentioned wing, a third wing extending from opposite sides of said fuselage rearwardly of said first mentioned wing and below said" second me'ntioned wings, vertical walls bridging the space between said second and third wings, at the ends of said wings and connecting said second and third wings with the first mentioned wings for forming with all of said wings a box-like structure-opened at its front and rear for the full length of the structure, a pair of propellers on opposite sides .of said fuselage and disposed beneath said rear wings adjacent the trailing edge of said rear wing, an operating connection between said motor and said last mentioned ropellers, said last mentioned propellers being reversible.

v In testimony whereof I aflix my si ature.

JOSEPH THOMAS NAR SCH.

ing its leading edge disposed in overlapping relation with the trailing edge of the forward wing, walls connecting the adjacent ends of said front, rear and mtermediate wings at their adjacent ends,'and forming therewith a box like structure extending transverse y of the aeroplane, open along its front and rear, and a pair of propellers rotated beneath- 

